People naturally and understandably tend to worry about fats in their diet, especially when trying to maintain a healthy weight.
There are many cases where fats are not only harmful – they can also improve our health in various ways if eaten in moderation of course.
One notable example of this is canola oil – which may now be in your kitchen cupboard but you’re not sure you fully understand how it affects you.
But it’s important to say that there isn’t really a “canola” plant and this oil was first developed by Canadian scientists who crossbred several types of rapeseed, according to starkest walla.
Turnip is a cruciferous vegetable that also includes radish, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli.
Crossbreeding was performed as part of a genetic improvement process, in order to reduce the level of erucic acid – which according to studies can be harmful to the body. The name canola is actually an acronym for Canadian Oil Low Acid.
To understand how canola oil affects health, it is first important to know the difference between the different types of fatty acids we use.
Saturated fats, found mainly in animal foods, can do high levels of damage to the body, raise cholesterol levels, and increase the risk of heart disease, obesity, and even neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
On the other hand, unsaturated fats may have the opposite effect on the body, increasing levels of “good cholesterol” (HDL), reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL), improving circulation, prolonging feelings of fullness, and reducing the risk of various diseases.
Unsaturated fats can be divided into two groups:
Monounsaturated fats are found in plant foods, such as avocado, tahini, sesame seeds, nuts, and almonds. There are also a lot of unsaturated fats – omega-3 and omega-6 – that the body cannot produce on its own and are an important component of its proper functioning.
Animal omega-3s are mainly found in eggs and saltwater fish such as tuna and salmon. Omega-6 is found in various oils and of course also in canola.
Both omega-3 and omega-6 are essential to maintaining good health, but the Western diet relies on very high levels of omega-6 and very low levels of omega-3 – something that can sometimes be harmful.
Therefore, a balance between these fatty acids is very essential and you should pay attention to it if you want to go on a diet to improve your health.
Canola oil, which has been developed in the laboratory to strengthen its composition, contains a relatively high amount of omega-3s and a low rate of saturated fatty acids.
The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is also excellent in this oil, so many recommend using it in cooking.
Canola oil contains 10 percent alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3 from a vegetable source). For comparison, olive oil contains only one percent.
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